June 7, 2017

http://lettersfromjanetblogspot.com Greetings My Friend Each day in my Bible study journal I ask this question: "How can I serve others today?" My answer reflected on what I had studied which was in 1 Timothy. Timothy was advised by Paul, "Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have severed from the faith." Sometimes I think I have a tendency to listen to all kinds of thoughts about what God is saying. It is easy to get myself on a rabbit trail that leads to no where. My reading these days is not what it was in my younger days so I have made my first priority to read the Bible each day and I do little more in depth reading than this I am content. I no longer listen to Christian talk radio either so my thinking is mainly what I am learning as I read the Bible. I do listen to a sermon on Sunday and I study in Sunday school so I am getting a deeper understanding of the Bible. My cousin Dawn and I have long chats on what we are learning as we read our Bible. Dawn is a reader so she reads all kinds of Christian books on relationships and such. I enjoy our talks a lot. After contemplating my journal question I felt the answer was "Read the Word, live the Word and give the Word." Lately "give the Word" seems to be do it without using words or in other words "live the Word." My biggest desire is for people to understand that there is an end to this life and then eternity. That eternity thing is never going to change life after that will stay the same day in and day out forever. I fear for people who make no decision about their faith, just going through life enjoying it or not and then they die and this is what stops me cold, that word forever and ever and ever. I never wanted to be a Bible thumper pounding the sins of the people over their heads. I do want them to realize we are sinners though and we need to face that fact. It does not matter what was done to you through the years and that is why you behave as you do. I have felt these moments myself, how was I going to change, it is not my fault that such and so a thing happened to me. The sad fact is we are the ones that can live in that hurt or we can confess it, give it to God and allow Him to change us. I find living out my faith to be the best way I know how to spread the Gospel. A long time ago when I was upset with my life the way it was and I felt I had no control a friend told me it was up to me to change the script. There was going to be no changing until I began to change my life. I resented this piece of information because I felt I was always trying and the other person was not. Years later I see the truth in this statement. I did begin to change my script in life. I went back to school, I got a job and eventually found my way to Jesus. I remember confessing and the freedom that seeped through me. I learned that God takes me right where I am at and He loves me too much to leave me there. This has been true in my life. Today my living my faith is the hope I truly have. This hope speaks to those that see me and want to change. Some say they want to change but they keep living the same way. I have learned to see these people and I love them for a season. Because God won't let me stay where I am for long I find I need to move along. Sometimes I meet someone who truly wants to change and all of a sudden God slows me down and shows me how to mentor the person. Help is there for everyone if they truly want it. I find my help in my day to day walk in the Lord to be the best place to change. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet